Separating needs from wants Even those of us who have been paragons of responsibility for 51 weeks of the year can be tempted to take a budgeting holiday when Christmas and the summer vacation roll around. Unlike overindulging at the Christmas lunch, this has more than short-term consequences. Last December, Australians spent $25.6 billion in retail stores. A survey […]
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The 12 tips of Christmas Ever wonder what Christmas carols would sound like if they were written today? There’d probably be a lot less about piper’s piping and partridges in pear trees, and a bit more about the madness of trying to put on the perfect Christmas without breaking the bank – or going a bit mad. Perhaps an urban […]
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Opportunities in the cooling property market-1 Things are looking up for first home buyers for the first time in years as house price growth begins to slow across the country. While prices have been on the slide for some areas in the West and the North since the end of the mining boom, the housing market in Sydney and Melbourne also […]
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The changing face of DIY super Move over baby boomers, younger Australians are taking to self-managed superannuation funds in ever greater numbers. While the face of DIY super may be changing, the reasons for flying solo remain the same. Flexibility and control are the main drawcards, along with falling set-up costs. The latest statistics from the Australian Taxation Office show that […]
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Managing big life changes You’ve probably heard the saying ‘change is as good as a holiday’. And sure, in some situations, altering your circumstances can be refreshing. But not all major life changes make you feel immediately clear, secure, and ready to take on the world. When everything you know is turned upside down, moving forward successfully is not […]
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